248 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



some ancient race of fowls, formed no doubt by careful breeding and domestication, and which was 

 probably developed into the Cochin by the Chinese on the one hand, and possibly into the Malay 



on the other the Cochin branch becoming still more downy in feather and quiet in habits; while 



the Malay, on the other hand, became closer iii plumage and lost the leg-feather, or may even have 

 been formed by crossing back with the Galliis Bankiva. Any naturalist with the knowledge of a 

 fancier would see many reasons we cannot give here for both suppositions. 



The importance of this matter, as we noted at commencing, with regard to the whole subject of 

 the origin of species, must be our apology for devoting so much space to it, though in this we have 

 only followed the example of oth.ers. We may now proceed to consider the breed practically in 

 detail. In doin<T so, many of our remarks will be found nearly identical with what we have 

 previously written for a special work on this breed,* for the simple reason that having been tlicn 

 most carefully considered, we can find little room for improvement. We shall, however, neitlier 

 strive to avoid actual quotations nor to make them, but adopt or modify our own remarks as 

 seems best, taking no further notice of their previous publication than this general allusion, and 

 adding or vaiying wherever change of circumstances seems so to require. 



Both Dark and Light varieties of the Brahma should be precisely alike in size, shape, and 



carriage, as are the different varieties of Cochins, only differing in colour. The Light breed, it 



is true, has till lately been far behind the Dark in these respects ; and it has even been attempted by 



Light breeders to urge that their variety should be judged by a less stringent standard, but for 



this there is no ground whatever. Light birds have been bred as large and fine as the Darks, and 



may be again ; wh.iie in America they surpass the Dark on an average in size, though as a rule 



inferior in shape. It only needs judgment in mating and care in rearing, to breed them as fine as ever ; 



and we have been glad to see several breeders of late have adopted our frequently published 



recommendation, and by obtaining a cross of the large though rather coarse American stock, have 



made great gain in point of si^.e and vigour. A full-grown cock of either breed cannot be regarded 



as up to exhibition standard if he weighs less than twelve pounds, while hens should weigh eight 



to ten pounds. Cockerels six months old should weigh from seven to nine pounds, and pullets six 



to eight pounds. These are very good weights, and after long experience we have not the 



slightest hesitation in saying that for all practical purposes birds which reach these weights are 



to be preferred to heavier ; but they will very often be exceeded, and cocks have been known to 



us which have reached fifteen, sixteen, and in one case just over eighteen pounds, while many hens 



have been known to turn the scale on twelve pounds. Of course, if such birds are fine in their 



other points they are very valuable for exhibition, and there cannot be a doubt that the Brahma 



may easily be made to attain a greater weight than any other breed, not excepting the Cochin ; 



but as a rule we have found that moderate-sized birds are healthier, more prolific in eggs, keep 



their plumage in better order, and generally breed /wr and larger stock than the very largest birds. 



We say as a rule, because there are occasionally found birds which have grown very large without 



any special feeding, and breed naturally a large stock, with no apparent loss of fertility. Such are 



to be valued, and by their means a large strain may be established and perpetuated; hwt forcing 



.size in this breed is to be especially condemned. The effect is nearly always to make the plumage 



soft and slack-looking ; and as the Brahma, unlike the Cochin, is a close-feaihcrcd breed, one of its 



great beauties is thus to a great extent lost. 



The head of the cock cannot be too small in proportion to Ihe body. This point is not easy 



* " The nrnlinin Fowl : a Moii"gr.ipli." 



